Iceland Foods has doubled the number of its branded concessions with Irish retailer Dunnes.
Four new store-within-a-store concepts opened in Dunnes stores in Ennis, Charlestown, Clondalkin and Marshes between 30 October and 7 November, taking the total number of Iceland concessions to eight Dunnes sites.
It marked a “significant expansion” of the retailer’s presence in the Republic of Ireland, adding to the more than 70 Dunnes stores which also stock Iceland’s own label and exclusive products under a long-term supply agreement.
Iceland launched the first Dunnes concessions in October 2024, as a way of rebuilding its presence in Ireland following the controversial sale and subsequent collapse of its Irish business in 2023.
Iceland Foods Irish store saga
Iceland Foods sold all 26 of its Irish stores to Project Point Technologies, a company run by a former franchise holder and entrepreneur Naeem Maniar, who was also director of the Homesavers discount chain, in February 2023.
However shortly after the sale, Project Point, which by then was renamed Metron Stores, entered examinership, owing around €36m in debts.
The situation was made worse after the Irish Food Safety Board slapped Iceland with an import ban related to traceability checks, leaving thousands of pounds worth of stock rotting in ports, and freezers in Irish stores all but empty.
Maniar later sued Iceland Foods, accusing them of sweeping “away” assets prior to the sale, leaving the business unsustainable. Iceland denied those claims and in September 2023 was awarded legal costs after defending the examinership claim.
Metron collapsed in September 2023 leading to the closure of all 26 Iceland stores. Iceland stores in Northern Ireland were unaffected.
“We’re excited to announce that we’re doubling the number of concessions in Ireland by bolstering our partnership with Dunnes,” said Iceland’s international and partnerships director Justin Addison.
“Through opening another four, we’re making Iceland products more accessible for Irish customers so they can enjoy our incredible deals across everyday essentials and exclusive brands,” Addison said.
Iceland is in the midst of a major push to expand its network of international supply partnerships into new regions, following what Addison described as a year of “record growth” in 2024.
It’s seen the retailer strike new partnerships with Alliance Stores in the Channel Islands, a new joint venture with investment group SKEL to expand into the Nordics, as well as its entrance into China with a new AI-Lab store concept in May 2025.
“Our partnership with Dunnes is vital to expanding Iceland’s presence beyond UK borders,” Addison continued, on the latest expansion.
“With both retailers sharing similar values and goals, we’re committed to growing this partnership well into the future.”
No comments yet